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[methyl-3H]Choline incorporation into MCF7 tumour cells: correlation with proliferation

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to investigate the intracellular location of [methyl-3H]choline in MCF7 tumour cells and to determine the relationship between [methyl-3H]choline incorporation and proliferation.

Methods

Tumour cells were incubated with [methyl-3H]choline for 10 min, and then in cold medium to simulate the rapid blood clearance of [methyl-11C]choline. Labelled metabolites were then extracted from cells by treating them with organic and aqueous solvents to determine the distribution of tracer between phospholipid and water-soluble metabolite pools. Aqueous extracts were subjected to thin-layer chromatography, ion exchange chromatography and a choline extraction procedure to identify 3H-containing metabolites. Procedures were carried out on fast- and slow-growing populations of MCF7 cells to determine the relationship between choline incorporation and proliferation.

Results

Only about 5% of [methyl-3H]choline was present as phospholipid. [methyl-3H]choline incorporation was found to be related to S-phase fraction. In another experiment, [methyl-14C]choline incorporation was found to be correlated with [methyl-3H]thymidine incorporation. The Vmax of choline uptake was found to be increased whilst Km was decreased in populations of MCF7 cells with higher proliferative fractions, compared with populations having lower proliferative fractions.

Conclusion

Choline incorporation into tumour cells under conditions that simulate rapid blood clearance of [methyl-11C]choline is correlated with proliferation. Most of the activity (about 95%) was in the non-lipid fraction of the cell.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by a Kuwait Government Ph.D. studentship and the University of Aberdeen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. John Mallard PET Centre Department of Biomedical Physics and Bioengineering, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    Fatma Al-Saeedi, Andy E. Welch & Tim A. D. Smith

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  1. Fatma Al-Saeedi
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  2. Andy E. Welch
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  3. Tim A. D. Smith
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Correspondence to Tim A. D. Smith.

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Al-Saeedi, F., Welch, A.E. & Smith, T.A.D. [methyl-3H]Choline incorporation into MCF7 tumour cells: correlation with proliferation. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 32, 660–667 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-004-1707-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-004-1707-6

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